Having the urge

Ever since childhood I've had that urge
To collect something, that can't be purged
Noting steam loco's numbers on railway line
As a youngster at stations suited me fine

Then was a fad for collecting birds eggs
Thinking of that now makes my mind beg
Stamp collecting was a far gentler sport
Learn't geography from this as I ought

But growing up led to far milder ways
So bird watching with wife spent many days
I collected old postcards whilst rain showers
And she spent time doing jig-saws for hours

But getting old makes one recall the past
So I gave family history a blast
To delve in those days of another age
You find the method to turn back time's page

And how you laugh at their indiscretions
Large families, funny names and passions
So many children and many a death
It makes you want to gasp with such sad breath 

What will people think knowing your passion?
Perhaps they'll wish to have the same intention
Or look at you with strange contemplation
'Cos they're glued to Netflix on television

Image found at https://pxabay.com/photos/steam-train-haverthwaite-railway-3874986/

It was the birds

It was the birds that set the scene
As they each left the fields
Flew up into the sky
Circling flew away for the night

I sat still taking it all in
Cattle lowed bound for home
T'was milking time for them
Their usual path they'd be alright

Then following their trail a fox
Paddock fence was open
So great chance for a snatch
And overhead flew a soaring kite

An owl woke up now looked around
As he watched for some prey
A mouse, a chick; all game
His day was starting so took flight

Milking over, cows back to graze
Settle for quiet night
Farm dog sits by back door
Likes to keep master within sight

Image found at https://freedesignfile.com/36049-farm-dusk-beauty-stock-photo/

Warm bright flames

The warm bright flames from the open fire
Light up your flesh as you sit by me
I never thought we would last this long
Thought we'd part to sing our own song

There's something pure about our love
You don't moan at my shapeless clothes
I'm happy you have girl's night out
With friends from work to twist and shout

I think you're an angel in disguise
You cuddle, whisper "I feel safe"
Twice we had thought about a change
We both thought that would be quite strange

We don't cheat for we trust each other
No, we don't wear each other out
Yes, we allow freedom that's true
But we will never say adieu


Image found at https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-752088.html

I awake early

I awake early from my sleep
Summer sun has not risen yet
The air is still it whispers not
Even Moon has already set

Listen for twitter in the trees
Even the owls throw in the towel
It's magic just me by myself
Time for poet, verse and vowel

Horizon lightens as I stare
Prompting twitters from above
A wombat's grunt comes along
Cooing starts of Turtle dove

Now the breeze whispers quietly
Lest the humans wake far too soon
Then the Sun's rays light up the sky
As the early birds sing in tune

Hear the distant hum of traffic
As man scares the wild ones away
Now there's a rumble of a train
Horns are sounded...another day

I come in to find solitude
From mankind's crazy noisy way
There's nothing like nature's stillness
To lift me up to face the day

Image found at https://wildambience.com/albums/dawn-in-the-valley/

She leads

Could have been great disappointment to wife
Even though she was the love of my life
I first saw her in the street one fine day
Proposed a date, "Yes" she answered, hooray!

Date went well, held hands as I walked her home
Discussing what else could be done
It soon was clear she liked to dance a lot
Kissed goodnight, went home; brain lost the plot

I had two left feet and my mind went wild
Hopeless me, I almost cried like a child
She ticked all my boxes; but what of her?
Below standard me, she'd surely demure

We stuck with films and concerts for awhile
Until I told the real truth without guile
But she didn't despair or so I thought
So stopped at shop, box of chocs I bought

Clearly I knew how to turn the life's tide
Not long before with me she would abide
As we married less than a year later
Garden reception with lots of waiters

Dear one, she chose to take me just as I am
Marriage was good, could say t'was topped with jam
If we ever danced it was she who leads
She considers me one with special needs

Image found at https://www.overstockart.com/painting/renoir-dance-in-the-city-933623727

Everything is a blur

Everything is a blur

I just don't know who's to blame

I close my eyes and wait a bit

Just who is playing a game?

Sing your songs, write poems for me

As we waste our lives away

Let's smoke those Gauloise cigarettes

For nothing will be the same

I saw that you've bleached your hair

Whilst I have grown my fine beard

We're just dancing our lives away

Only me and you to blame

Where did you go my sweet love

On that Paris day in Spring

When it was five, dizzy I woke 

You never answered your name

I waited so long in the flat

And fearing the worst of course

Humiliation seeped through my bones

For I had lost the endgame

Image found at http://favim.com/image/165965/

http://favim.com/image/165965/

I was so in love

"Indeed ; why should I not admit it? -in that moment, my heart was breaking"- Kazuo Ishiguro - The Remains of the Day

Nineteen, I was so in love
Always welcome in her home
He parents happy I came there
In their lounge was my own chair

We'd go for walks, spoon of course
Hold hands deep in the woods
I carved our names on tree's trunk
Loving her like being drunk

Went on holday with her
At invite from her parents
Close to the sea much to do
One last treat before her adieu

It broke my heart, I was lost
I only ever thought of her
She'd said "Should try others out"
I wanted to scream and shout

That was the end of our affair
Oh so many years ago
Then one day when I was old
Message came, who could have told?

So we wrote of this and that
In love and such confidence
She's now died, I've shed my tears
Thus it was in our last years

Image found at http://vcool.com/good-first-date-ideas